Professor and Director of Manufacturing Engineering John Wood took government officials on a tour of semiconductor cleanrooms Monday, following the award of a $1.3 million federal grant to boost business development. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development David Sampson and Wood discussed expansion of UNM’s Manufacturing Training and Technology Center (MTTC).
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, UNM President Louis Caldera, Vice Provost for Research Terry Yates and Rick Homans, state secretary of economic development, participated in a ceremony at UNM’s Science and Technology Park. Expansion of cleanroom capabilities will allow for increased collaboration between UNM and small technology firms.
“This important project directly supports the research-driven businesses that keep New Mexico ahead of the curve in technology product development,” said Wilson in a press release. She said it is difficult for small technology companies to afford the high cost of installing cleanrooms.
Harry Weaver, a research professor in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, is director of cleanroom operations. He said the $1.3 million will be used to create more cleanroom space and will add processes that will keep UNM competitive with other regional research universities.
Currently 200,000 square feet of the center’s 600,000 square foot space is used for clean-room workstations. The cleanroom is used for training engineers and technicians and it supports small companies as they take research and development ideas into production.
Bond B for Education in the 2004 general election, if passed, will provide $200,000 for MTTC new cleanroom equipment.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816